Join us on our running adventure through the 15 UK National Parks, discovering the Physics of our Great Outdoors

So many to Thank!

A month ago this journey began and we started our first marathon in the Norfolk Broads National Park. 28 days later we managed to drag our tired bodies through the last marathon in the Cairngorms National Park. Elated but exhausted, we could finally take stock of what we have achieved, learnt and experienced. Such an amazing feeling!

However, we would have managed only a fraction of all this without the help of some very important and special people…..

Firstly, we want to say a big thank you to all of the enthusiastic and wonderfully inspiring National Park Authority representatives (http://www.nationalparks.gov.uk/) who took the time out of their busy schedules to either meet up with us or carry out research to help focus our investigations. It has been fascinating to learn all that we have from these very knowledgeable and inspiring people.

JonathanDean for his enthusiasm, for sharing ideas on how the South Downs try to inspire young people, and for not laughing at our ‘twitting’ rather than tweeting! Unfortunately showing our age and ignorance of social media; we are learning if a little slowly!

HelenRobinson and AynsleyClinton, from the New Forest National Park, for their patience, fun and for being such great sports in helping us to take videos on the physics of cycling. Also for taking us to the Reptile Centre and introducing us to Richard, the centre manager.

OrlandoRutter for taking the time to think through and suggest suitable science investigations that we could carry out, as well as clearing our chosen route with landowners in the Dartmoor National Park.

DaveGurnett for meeting with us mid-run, introducing us to the enthusiastic Exmoor National Park Centre staff where we got a much needed cup of tea. For talking to us about all of the great projects that the park are currently running and for welcoming us so warmly.

Graham Peake from the Pembrokeshire Coast National Park Authority for putting us in touch with Darwin Science who provide excellent educational services for schools in the area.

ChrisRobinson and SarahWilks from the Peak District National Park for helping to connect us to key people in other national parks and for taking the time to discuss all the exciting projects that are currently underway to encourage young people to get out into the Peak District.

GrahamWatson, a fellow fell runner, for briefing us on John Muir Award and its extensive success within the Lake District National Park; for suggesting interesting ideas of science and environmental topics that we could investigate.

SueWilkinson, from the North York Moors National Park, for all of her positive energy and enthusiasm. Also for meeting with us in the delightful village of Goathland to discuss about all of the amazing projects that this park is currently running.

ElspethGrant for her kind support and for promoting our challenge amongst fellow physics teachers in the Cairngorms National Park.

Secondly, to those people who not only trusted us with using and looking after their science equipment during our challenge, but for also taking the time to explain, in laymen terms, how to successfully use said equipment.

Sally and JonathanBonnell, from Warminster, for loaning to us a wide range of equipment to measure our physiological changes throughout the month as well as during individual marathons.

TorSmith from the National Centre for Atmospheric Science (https://www.ncas.ac.uk/index.php/en/) for loaning us the use of HOBO temperature and relative humidity monitors that we used on several marathons across the country.

Next, we would like to thank Craghoppers (http://www.craghoppers.com/) for sponsoring us with their fantastic clothing, which kept us both smart and warm on and between run days. Their Nosilife Asima Jacket proved to be indispensable throughout the whole adventure, their Kiwi Pro Stretch trousers perfect to slip on for warmth after each run and their Sienna Gortex Jackets essential against the elements on the mountain sections of our runs. Thank you as well to Craghoppers for supporting our adventure through Twitter.

Talking about Twitter, we must really give a big thank you to GemmaRogers, from the CampaignforNationalParks (http://www.cnp.org.uk/), and SueWindley, from ExmoorNationalParkAuthority (http://www.exmoor-nationalpark.gov.uk/), for also helping to promote our challenge to a wider audience, and for all of the encouraging words that they gave us.

The whole endeavour took its toll physically on our bodies so we had some essential ‘maintenance’ to ensure that we could keep going. For this we need to thank LynneTaylor and TimBudd, from GlobalTherapies (http://www.globaltherapies.com/), and ChristianMachen, from ScarboroughSportsMassageClinic (http://www.scarboroughsportsmassageclinic.co.uk/), for their magic hands and astute diagnosis of our ‘issues’! All of them are fellow runners so very aware of our needs. Thank you also to Lynne for all of her wonderful support on Twitter.

Although we managed to stay with some friends and family during the month, the majority of accommodation that we used was at YouthHostels (http://www.yha.org.uk/ and https://www.syha.org.uk/). These are two fantastic organisations that thankfully provided affordable, clean and comfortable accommodation for two weary and occasionally muddy runners!

Finally and most importantly, we must give huge thanks to our friends and family, who supported us physically, emotionally and psychologically. They ensured that we were well fed, had comfortable beds to sleep in and when necessary, the crucial use of their washing machines!

Pam’s brother, Paul Ellison, and his partner, Peter Begley, for the tasty meals and allowing us to sleep, shower, spread out our gear untidily around their place, as well as the use of their washing machine for the first of our laundry loads!

Claire’s parents, Dave and Celia Aspinall, for much appreciated running support, comfortable accommodation, nourishing food and the essential use of their dining room table to hammer out the first few ‘journey’ blogs. Great chilli!

Pam’s parents, Jane and Rob Ellison, for more much appreciated running support, comfortable accommodation, nourishing food and the use of their washing machine for our second large load of laundry! For also taking videos and photos of our efforts; even in the rain and mist!

OwenSimpson and ToniSearl for the amazing game pie and the much needed use of their place to catch up on our blogs and kit sorting.

Tom Bennett for his company and humour during the Exmoor run. This turned out to be the furthest and hilliest of all the routes, so Tom’s support was even more appreciated since it was his longest run by approximately 16 miles in 10 years!

Jane Fox and Lizzie Wilkinson for their company and enthusiasm during the Brecon Beacons run. The protein-rich cookies were a great boost mid-marathon; definitely keen to get the recipe!

Fellow runner, John Williams, who took time off to provide essential car shuttles, water support, take photos and show us the best places to park and get good coffee in Pembrokeshire!

Claire’s partner, Mike Hutton, for driving around small mountain roads to ensure that we could start where we needed and had enough water on our Snowdonia run. He also waited patiently for an extra hour, delaying him from an important photo shot, when we took longer than planned!

Helen Allison for her company, amazing strength to carry extra water for us and her magic hands for helping to keep Claire going at our highest point on the Peak District run. Most importantly, for showing us how to correctly use our poles, which turned out to be life-saving for our remaining marathons.

Claire’s aunt and uncle, Olga and John Haram, for accommodating us and providing much needed time-out mid-way through our challenge.

Zoe Barton for offering to help support on the Yorkshire Dales run and even if illness prevented her from managing to do so, her encouraging words kept us going.

Zoe Procter for keeping us entertained and motivated on the Yorkshire Dales run, as well as for helping to organise the use of key scientific equipment. We also need to mention that she took time to explain the results, and to carry some of the said equipment during this run.

Martin Kocsis and Frank for car shuttles, water provision and good humour; for showing us the bright lights of Whitby over a great fish ‘n’ chips supper!

There have been others that we have met along the way, whose encouraging smiles, humour and kind words kept us buoyed up and positive. Fellow walkers, mountain bikers, horse riders, runners, paragliders to name but a few, who like us, enjoy and explore these wonderful National Parks in their free time. Also the cafes and pubs, who not only provided much needed refreshment at times when we were flagging, but year-in year-out, give food and shelter to other park users.

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About Park Discoverers

During September 2016, fellow Physics teachers, Claire Aspinall and Pam Ellison, have put teaching aside to run an off-road marathon in each of the 15 United Kingdom National Parks. In collaboration with the National Parks, they will spend time collecting information on how the Science curriculum can be brought to life in these special places. Covering a wide range of Physics applications, they are hoping to take measurements during and between their runs, using lightweight equipment. They will be sharing their discoveries through blog posts and tweets, with the aim to educate, inspire and inform others.